A teenager struck by a police car may have a suffered a broken spine and is in an induced coma in hospital.

The 19-year-old was injured in the incident in the early hours of yesterday.

It is believed he had enjoyed a night out with pals in Portrush, visiting a bar and Kelly's night club before he was struck by the marked car.

It is understood the teen, who is believed to be from the Coleraine area, was being chased by a number of individuals when the incident happened.

A PSNI spokesman said: "A police car was involved in a road traffic collision on the Dunluce Road, Portrush, at approximately 2.15am on Thursday, February 18.

"The car was in a collision with a pedestrian, a 19-year-old man, who was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries, which are not believed to be life threatening.

"As is normal procedure, Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland has been informed of the incident."

Witnesses to the incident are helping with the investigation.

One said police had attending an incident in Portrush when the young man who was hurt, was in collision with a police car as he was being chased during a separate incident.

He was attended at the scene with first aid by the police and shortly afterwards by paramedics.

A spokesman for the Police Ombudsman added: "We are investigating the circumstances of a road traffic collision between a police car and a pedestrian. The incident happened on the Dunluce Road, Portrush in the early hours of Thursday, February 18."